Dusty Baker is one of eight on the Contemporary Baseball Era ballot for Cooperstown, with results due Dec. 6. The only manager to lead five teams to the playoffs, plus the 2022 Astros title, has a résumé that speaks loudly. ⚾
MLB Trade Rumors projects only mid-tier free agents for Houston: Tyler Mahle (No. 14), Mike Soroka, Steven Okert and Robbie Ray. Under new GM Randy Flores and Jim Crane's spending habits, no star is projected. A modest offseason looks plausible. 😬
Ahead of the Astros' manager search, a look at the other 29 managers: 13 are in their 40s, only five had prior big-league managing experience, and none were Hall of Famers as players. The trend points toward a 40-something former player. 🔬
CBS Sports' Mike Axisa predicts the Astros could trade Jeremy Peña, keeping Isaac Paredes, whose $13.35M option Houston picked up. With Peña a year from free agency and a crowded infield, it's speculation, not a done deal. 🤔
Albert Pujols is reportedly set to interview for the Astros' managerial job Thursday. He's never managed in the majors, but he has a Dominican Winter League title, a 2026 WBC semifinal run, and a St. Louis link to new GM Randy Flores. ⚾
Jeremy Peña missed the AL Silver Slugger shortstop finalists, with Angels' Zach Neto joining Kevin McGonigle and Bobby Witt Jr. instead. Peña led Neto in OPS (.802 vs. .766) and wRC+ (124 vs. 116), but injuries likely hurt his counting stats. 🧐
Astros are a Silver Slugger team-award finalist after leading MLB with 226 homers and the AL in slugging (.417). But 734 runs ranked just 14th in MLB, so the power is real and the offense still needs tweaks. Yordan Alvarez is also a DH finalist. 💥
Yordan Alvarez, the AL batting champ, is a Silver Slugger finalist, and the Astros are nominated for Offensive Team of the Year. Winners will be announced Nov. 17, so the trophy case may need a little extra room. 🏆
Astros are reportedly interviewing Albert Pujols and ex-Astro Morgan Ensberg for the manager opening left by Joe Espada. Pujols has no MLB coaching experience; Ensberg has seven years of minor-league managing. Star power vs. résumé. ⚾
Cavan Biggio is now a free agent after his minor league deal with the Astros expired. He never played for Houston, but hit .230 with 18 homers, 104 walks and an .802 OPS in 123 games at Triple-A Sugar Land. Solid line, no MLB call. 📋
11/5/2022: Yordan Alvarez gave the Astros a lead during Game 6 of the World Series with this mammoth home run. That would eventually be the difference as Houston clinched a title a few innings later.
Astros' projected 2027 rotation is all right-handed, and Foster Griffin could be a affordable lefty fix. The 31-year-old went 15-6 with a 3.60 ERA over 172.2 innings in 2026, including an All-Star run, and his Cleveland slump may cut his price. 🎯
Yordan Alvarez is an AL MVP finalist, a decade after the Astros acquired the then-19-year-old from the Dodgers for reliever Josh Fields in 2016. The Dodgers didn't seem to know what they were giving up. Houston's diamond-in-the-rough bet is paying off. 💎
Former Astros coach Jason Kanzler, introduced as Mariners manager, dubbed Houston "the team that shall not be named" at T-Mobile Park. Seattle picked him over ex-Astros manager Joe Espada. Subtle shade, delivered with a straight face. 😏
New GM Randy Flores, who Jim Crane says will have full authority, has about four weeks before a likely lockout to start reshaping the roster under salary limits. Jeremy Peña's trade value, with one year before free agency, is a question mark. 🔒
It’s a single-issue negotiation. MLB wants a cap, the players reject a cap. All of the details MLB has shared about its vision -- a number of which are good! -- are tied to the MLBPA accepting a cap system. Publicly, at least, the league has not put forth any vision of a non-capped league. The players, and again I’ll say this is based on what we know, appear to have no intention of accepting a payroll cap. Until one side or the other concedes on this point, there is nowhere for negotiations...
Astros' managerial search to replace Joe Espada reportedly added Rangers bench coach Luis Urueta, who interviewed this week. He joins Brad Ausmus, and Albert Pujols has reportedly interviewed too. New GM Randy Flores is running a quick search. 🔍
Former Astros Cy Young winner Dallas Keuchel is officially a free agent after his expiring minor league deal with the Athletics' organization ended. He hasn't pitched in MLB since 2024, so his next move is open to any taker. 🔓
Final installment of the Altuve Hall of Fame index: on counting stats, he's at 2,519 hits, 192 HR and 1,130 runs. Projected over three more seasons, he'd land near 2,969 hits and 316 homers, within reach of the Hall mean in most categories. 🧪
A new-look front office under GM Randy Flores could consider trading shortstop Jeremy Peña, who has one year of control left. The argument: Houston likely won't extend him, so a Tucker-style return beats losing him in free agency. 🔄
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